KAMPALA, July 15-- China on Wednesday donated an assortment of medical supplies to Uganda in what has turned out to be an annual norm as the two countries bolster ties in efforts to build a healthier community. Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese ambassador to Uganda handed over the supplies, which included medicines and equipment, to the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital in the Ugandan capital Kampala. The 100-bed hospital itself was a donation from the Chinese government and there are plans, according to the hospital administration, to expand the facility. In the hospital corridors and wards, it is common to find Chinese doctors clad in white medical overall coats. China has been sending medical teams to Uganda since 1983. This kind of medical aid is a common phenomenon in many African countries, dating back to 1963 when China sent its first medical team to Africa. This year marks 14 years since the first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit held in Beijing. The FOCAC framework is designed to deepen the China-Africa cooperation. In most of the FOCAC summits, health commitments have featured high. During the last summit held in 2018 in Beijing, China announced collaboration in eight key areas, and health care was among them. The others areas are industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity-building, people-to-people exchanges, peace and security. |